USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > Centennial history of the city of Washington, D. C. With full outline of the natural advantages, accounts of the Indian tribes, selection of the site, founding of the city to the present time > Part 60
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The mutual council referred to above convened in Washington January 13, 1869. Dr. Boynton presented his preliminary statement. He said that it was a fundamental principle of the Congregational Church that the majority must rule, and that if, after a full discussion of questions at issue, the minority could not be reconciled to the gov- ernment of a majority, they must withdraw. He was quite willing there should be a full investigation of every charge. Wednesday and Thursday were consumed in the discussion, and on Friday General Howard made a statement as to the financial condition of the church, showing that the building had cost about $100,000, of which $60,000 had been subscribed. It became evident, through the discussion, that Gen- eral Howard and Dr. Boynton could only settle personal differences personally, and that church troubles must be settled by the council. On Saturday morning, the 16th, the committee to which had been referred the troubles in the church made a report, stating that the attitude of the church toward the colored people had excited painful interest throughout the country, and that the council was not sur- prised that the controversy had arisen, yet they did not believe either the pastor or the majority of the church was opposed to the colored people; notwithstanding this, however, they believed that the blacks could best work out their own salvation apart from the whites.
April 22, a meeting was held to consider the question that agi- tated and disturbed the church, at which time, in order to open up a way for a reconciliation, Dr. Boynton resigned, and his resignation was at once accepted. James S. Delano then presented a petition, signed by a large number of the members, asking letters of dismission
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for the purpose of forming a new church, and on motion of General Howard, the letters asked for were granted. The meeting then ad- journed, and a meeting of the seceding members was immediately organized, at which Dr. Boynton was chosen moderator. The name suggested at that time for this new organization was the "People's Church," of which, by April 25, there were about one hundred and twenty-five members. The Young Men's Christian Association rooms were secured, and Rev. Dr. Boynton was elected pastor. The church thus organized held its meetings for a time in the Thirteenth Street Baptist Church, until the Young Men's Christian Association rooms were completed.
The First Church occupies its own fine edifice on the corner of Tenth and G streets, and its present pastor is Rev. S. M. Newman.
The People's Congregational Church, located on O Street, between Seventh and Eighth, Northwest, was organized in 1869, and its first pastor was Rev. Charles B. Boynton, D. D. The causes leading to its organization are detailed in the sketch of the First Church, and need only to be referred to. The congregation is in good condition. The pastor is Rev. J. H. Dailey, residing at 2028 Vermont Avenue.
The Tabernacle Congregational Church was organized in 1881. It is located on Ninth Street, between B Street and Virginia Avenue, and is under the pastoral supervision of Rev. G. J. Jones, Ph. D.
Lincoln Memorial Congregational Church, corner of Eleventh and R streets Northwest, was organized in 1881. Its pastor is Rev. George W. Moore.
Plymouth Congregational, corner Seventeenth and P streets North- west, was organized also in 1881. Rev. Sterling N. Brown is serving as its pastor.
The Fifth Congregational Church was organized May 13, 1886, with fifteen members. The first and present pastor is Rev. B. N. Seymour, who began September 17, 1887, and was ordained in November, 1887. Services are held in Milford Hall, at the corner of Eighth and I streets Northeast, which was purchased in May, 1888, for $5,000. The membership of this church on January 1, 1892, was seventy-five.
The First Baptist Church was organized March 7, 1802, with six members, in a private house, by Rev. William Parkinson, at that time and for some years afterward chaplain of one of the Houses of Con- gress. The six members of this church at the time of its organization were Charles P. Polk, Cephas Fox, Charles Rogers, John Buchan, Joseph Borrows, and Sarah Borrows. They proceeded at once to
37
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secure a church building, and purchased a lot on the southwest corner of Nineteenth and I streets. Upon this lot they erected a brick church building, and occupied it for the first time in the following November. The building thus early begun was not finished, however, until 1809. The church was without a regular pastor until 1807, though it had had services by Rev. Mr. Parkinson and others from time to time. In 1807 Rev. Obadiah B. Brown became the pastor, and remained until 1850. At the beginning of his pastorate, the congre- gation consisted of twenty-seven members, while at its close the membership was composed of one hundred and fifty persons. He was succeeded by Rev. Stephen P. Ilill, D. D., from Baltimore.
Under Rev. Mr. Brown's ministry, the church building was from time to time improved. In 1809 wide galleries were put in, so wide indeed that an old member, presumably an old salt, remarked that the church reminded him of the hatchway of a ship. At this time the system of pew renting was adopted, and forty-four pews were rented for the aggregate sum of $300 per annum. A converted actor, named Spencer II. Cone, of Baltimore, removed to Washington, joined this church, and was ordained to preach, becoming pastor of the Baptist church at Alexandria. Oliver C. Comstock, a member of Congress from New York, was also converted and ordained to the ministry. In addition to these two, the following were ordained ministers of the Gospel: Joseph H. Jones, William Sedgwick, Robert W. Cushman, Luther Rice, James D. Knowles, Baron Stow, George F. Adams, John Pratt, Joseph T. Robert, Robert B. C. Howell, Stephen Chapin, and Henry W. Dodge.
Previous to 1826, the question had been discussed of erecting a church in the central portion of the city. A lot was purchased on D Street, between Eighth and Ninth streets, Northwest, for $100, but the financial condition of the congregation was so low that no action could be taken for several years. In 1833, the question was again taken up as to a change in the location of the church, and this time it was pushed to completion. Lot No. 10, in Square 377, on the east side of Tenth Street, between E and F streets, Northwest, was secured, and the erection of a new church building begun in July, 1833. This building was of brick, sixty-five feet long and forty-five feet wide, with a Sunday-school room and lecture room in the rear, twenty-two by thirty feet, and a tower in the front. The cost of the church was somewhat upward of $8,000. This church was located on the site subsequently made historic from the assassination of President Lincoln in Ford's Theater, built upon the spot.
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Soon after the removal to the new church building, a large portion of the colored members of the church were formed into a separate organization and granted the use of the old church building, and this colored Baptist church is still in existence.
In 1840, the new church building was damaged by fire, and in 1843 there was a revival of religion, as there had been in 1816 and in 1839. As has been stated above, Rev. Stephen P. Hill, D. D., suc- ceeded Rev. Mr. Brown, and during the pastorate of Dr. Hill, the church property on Tenth Street was sold. This was on account of a consolidation of this church with the Fourth Baptist, and the removal of the First Church to the property of the Fourth Church on Thirteenth Street. The proceeds of the sale of the Tenth Street church property were used in paying off a portion of the debt of the Fourth Church. At the time of the consolidation, Rev. Isaac Cole was pastor of the Fourth Church, and he became joint pastor of the new congregation with Dr. Hill. In February, 1862, the church building was greatly damaged by a hurricane. The steeple was blown down, and, falling on the roof of the church, crushed through, com- pletely wrecking the interior. The damage having been repaired, the building was taken for a hospital by the Government, the congrega- tion meeting in the meantime in the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, the use of which was tendered them; and thus the New York Avenue Church reciprocated a similar favor conferred upon it some years before by this church. The joint pastorate terminated in 1860, when the Rev. Dr. Samson, president of Columbia College, accepted the pastorate of this church, and served without pay for three years, for the purpose of assisting the church. He was succeeded by Rev. A. D. Gillettee, D. D., who remained five years. Rev. J. H. Cuthbert, D. D., then became the pastor, and remained seventeen years. The Rev. Charles A. Stakely succeeded Dr. Cuthbert, and was installed pastor in December, 1887. He is still the pastor.
The Second Baptist Church, corner of Fourth Street and Virginia Avenue Southeast, was organized June 1, 1810, with five members dismissed from the First Baptist Church. The first house of worship stood near the Navy Yard, for which reason it was sometimes called the Navy Yard Baptist Church. The congregation belonged to the Columbia Baptist Association, composed principally of churches in Virginia. In 1826, it had about one hundred and sixty- members. The first regular pastor was Rev. Osborn. Some of his successors were: Rev. Barton, Rev. Lynd, Rev. Rollin Neale, Rev. Leland (1839), Rev. G. W. Samson (1844), Rev. J. W. Greer (1871), Rev. P.
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Warren (died March 12, 1871). One of the most conspicuous men in the list of early pastors was Rev. Stephen Cone, at one time chaplain of the llouse of Representatives. IIe had, also, pastorates in several of the leading Eastern cities. The present pastor is E. Hez Swem, under whom the congregation has reached a membership of five hundred and seventy-eight.
The present house of worship, a brick structure, was erected some thirty-five or forty years ago. Funds are being raised for the erection of a new and enlarged edifice during the year 1892.
The E Street Baptist Church, located on E Street, between Sixth and Seventh, Northwest, was organized in 1842. One of the early pastors was Rev. G. W. Samson. He was finally chosen president of Columbia College and was succeeded by Rev. J. Spencer Kennard, who entered upon his duties October 23, 1859. This congregation has a comfortable brick structure, and is one of the active Baptist churches of the city. It reported in 1891 a membership of three hundred and seventy-four souls, and held property estimated to be worth $90,000. Its total receipts for the year were $5,836.88. Its pastor is the Rev. J. J. Muir.
Fifth Baptist Church, located on D Street, between Four and a Half and Sixth, Southwest, was formerly known as Island Baptist Church. It was founded in June, 1857. In September of that year, a site was purchased on Virginia Avenue, between Four and a Half and Sixth streets, and on the 23d of said month a committee of delegates from the various Baptist churches of the city met to examine Mr. C. C. Meader as to his fitness, and to prepare for his ordination. The day selected was September 27, when he was ordained to the work. IIe has remained pastor ever since. The congregation enrolls four hundred and fifty-two members.
Calvary Baptist Church was organized June 2, 1862, with thirty- five constituent members. Services were at first held in "Old Trinity Church," on Fifth Street, between D and E streets, Rev. T. R. How- lett, D. D., being the first pastor. The corner stone of the first church building erected by this organization was laid September 6, 1863, Rev. Mr. Howlett, Rev. G. W. Samson, and Rev. Dr. Gillettee taking part in the ceremonies. The lot upon which this church was erected was on the corner of II and Eighth streets Northwest, and was purchased for the church by Ilon. Amos Kendall, at a cost of $8,000. Mr. Ken- dall also placed at the disposal of the church a building fund of $13,000, and donated the income of $25,000, which, besides paying the pastor's salary, gave a handsome sum for other purposes. The
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church building thus erected was a fine specimen of the Gothic style of architecture, and cost $50,000. It was seventy-five by ninety-five feet in size, and the tower terminated in an octagonal open-work iron spire, bearing a erneiform flower, and was one hundred and sixty feet high. The spire was sixty feet high, and beneath it was suspended a bell weighing four thousand pounds. Under the bell was a clock with a face eight feet square. The entire cost of the church, ground, and furniture was more than $115,000, more than half of which was con- tributed by Hon. Amos Kendall, who was then more than seventy-six years of age. This church was dedicated June 3, 1866. When com- pleted, it had one of the finest auditoriums in the city. This church organization has also erected Kendall Chapel, on Thirteen and a Half and D streets Southwest, at a cost of $8,000, and Memorial Chapel, of brick, at Fifth and P streets, at a cost of $15,000. In 1872 the mem- bership of this church was three hundred and five, and in 1892, one thousand and one hundred.
Since Rev. Dr. Howlett's pastorate closed, the pastors have been Rev. J. W. Parker, D. D., Rev. A. F. Mason, D. D., and the present pastor, Rev. S. H. Greene, D. D., whose pastorate began in 1880. During this time, more than one thousand two hundred persons have united with the church. In 1867 the church edifice was destroyed by fire, and a new edifice was erected in 1869.
Gay Street Baptist Church, corner of Thirty-first and N streets, Georgetown, was organized June 19, 1866, by Rev. James Nelson, now of the Richmond Female Seminary, with eleven members. For two years, the congregation was permitted to use the Presbyterian chapel on Market ( now Thirty-third ) Street. It then secured grounds and an edifice, through the generosity, largely, of Mr. James S. Welch, and a legacy from John McCntchen, deceased. The house of worship, a frame structure, was erected during the pastorate of Dr. Nelson, the dedication occurring October 11, 1868. The seating capacity is for six hundred persons. The list of pastors includes the following: Revs. James Nelson, A. J. Huntington, George W. Beale, George E. Truitt, Joseph Walker, - Lodge, George W. Mccullough, W. S. O. Thomas. The present membership is one hundred and seventy-one. In this number is Mrs. James S. Welch, widow of the late James S. Welch. She was the first person baptized after the church was organized, and is recognized now as a true mother in Israel.
The Metropolitan Baptist Church was organized February 27, 1878, with thirty-one members, there having been a society in existence for
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some time, but no regular church organization. The first building erected by them was a chapel built in the fall and winter of 1875-76, which was intended as the rear portion of a larger church to be erected subsequently, the foundation of which was laid in the fall of 1886, at the corner of A and Sixth streets Northeast, the super- structure of which was erected in 1887 and 1888. The pastors of the church have been the following: Rev. Stephen H. Mirick, Rev. Dr. Joseph W. Parker, Rev. William M. Ingersoll, Rev. William H. Young, B. D., and Rev. Green Clay Smith, the present pastor. The membership, at first thirty-one, has gradually increased to two hundred and forty-four.
The Grace Baptist Church, located on South Carolina Avenue and Ninth Street Southeast, until May 7, 1891, known as "The East Capitol Street Baptist Church," was organized December 28, 1884, with some thirty members. For over six years, the congregation met in a hall on the corner of Fourth and East Capitol streets. Finally, without a pastor, it bought a site, and erected in 1890-91 a brick edifice with stone trimmings. It was first occupied in June, 1891, but was not dedicated until October 25th of that year. Its membership is one hundred and five. The pastorate has been filled in succession by Revs. Owen MeVey Miller, Frank Gardner, and James D. Smith.
Maryland Avenue Baptist Church, corner of Maryland Avenue and Fourteenth Street Northeast, was organized in 1891. It reported fifty-seven members in 1891, and property valued at $8,000. Its pastor is Rev. S. R. White.
Concordia Lutheran Church is located on the corner of Twentieth and G streets Northwest, and in 1833 was organized by a small band of Germans under the name of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church, worshiping for a time in the City Hall. They then erected a church at the above location, which, in 1853, was enlarged. On December 27, 1846, Rev. Samuel D. Finkle entered upon the active duties of his ministry, and as the church grew and prospered, a par- sonage was built, a school established, and a society organized having for its object the assistance of the congregation in pecuniary and other affairs. The pastor now is Rev. Ernest Drewitz.
St. Paul's English Lutheran Church was started in 1842, the Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Maryland, at its session in October, that year, appointing Rev. Albert A. Muller to the station at Washington and Georgetown, with a view of establishing such a church at one or both of these places. Services were held for a time in Mr. Todd's new hall on Pennsylvania Avenue. June 18, 1844, the
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corner stone of the new church building was laid at the intersection of H and Eleventh streets Northwest, with imposing ceremonies, the address being delivered by Rev. Dr. Morris, of Baltimore. Rev. A. A. Muller was followed by Rev. J. G Butler, who, August 14, 1859, preached his tenth anniversary sermon. A neat church building was then possessed by the congregation, and the burden of debt had been removed. In May, 1861, Rev. Mr. Butler accepted the chaplainey of the Fifth Pennsylvania Regiment. The present pastor is Rev. S. Domer, D. D.
Trinity German Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1851. The church is located at the corner of Fourth and E streets Northwest, is of brick, and cost $12,000. It was dedicated November 22, 1857, by Rev. Wilhelm Nordmann, then pastor of the church. The pastors have been, since Rev. Mr. Nordmann, Revs. Ernst Burger, Peter Brand, Wilhelm Lubkert, and Heinrich Christian, the latter since November, 1876. At the present time, there are ninety-five voting members, and nearly four hundred confirmed members. There is a parochial school connected with the church, with two teachers and sixty-eight pupils.
St. John's (Johannes') German Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at No. 318 Four and a Half Street Southwest, was organized in 1853. The church edifice is a brick structure, and the present membership includes one hundred and forty-four families. There are several organizations within the church, viz .: St. John's Benefit Association, with 24 members; St. John's Woman's Society, with 26 members; St. John's Young People's Society, with 38 members. In the list of pastors there have been the following: Rev. Meister, the first; Rev. Schloegel, Rev. F. P. H. Henninghausen, Rev. A. Frey, Dr. Keitz, Rev. Dichl, Rev. John H. Mengert, Rev. Kurtz, Rev. Selinger, Rev. E. Lehnert, and Rev. H. K. Müller.
Zion's Lutheran Church, at the corner of Sixth and P streets Northwest, was established in 1867, and erected a frame building, which was dedicated March 30, 1873. The first pastor was Rev. Wil- liam A. Frey, and those succeeding him have been Revs. Emil Henek- ell, Mr. Steihauer, A. Eisenhauer, G. W. S. Landau, II. Unglaub, and the present pastor, A. Homrighaus. The present membership is about one hundred and fifty. English preaching has become a main feature of the service.
Memorial Lutheran Church is situated at the corner of Four- teenth and Vermont Avenue Northwest. The lot upon which this church stands was purchased in March, 1866, from Hon. Caleb Cush-
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ing for $8,000, by the people of St. Paul's English Lutheran Church, the subscription for the entire amount being secured from them on a single Sunday morning. The memorial chapel in the rear of the present church was dedicated February 5, 1868. The foundation of the new church was begun in the summer of 1870, the corner stone being laid October 31, that year. The present pastor is Rev. J. G. Butler.
The Church of the Reformation ( Lutheran) was organized in April, 1870, in a frame chapel which stood on First Street, near C, Southeast, by Rev. W. E. Parson, with twenty-three charter members. The little chapel was used until 1881, when a site was purchased on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Second Street Southeast, and a commodious two-story brick edifice, with lecture room in basement, was erected. The church has a membership of two hundred and fifty communicants. The pastors, in regular order, have been: W. E. Par- son, 1870-72; Philip Graif, 1872-75; Louis Hay, 1776-79; W. E. Par- son, 1879, present incumbent.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church, corner of Thirty-second and Q streets, Georgetown, is comparatively new as to its organization, but old as respects the title to church property. Colonel Charles Beatty, one of the founders of Georgetown, had, in 1769, set apart for the sole benefit of the Lutheran Church a plat of ground containing from one-half to three-quarters of an acre, and caused the same to be so entered and designated in the town plat. Subsequently, the site was used by the Lutherans for school purposes, and for a burial ground. Their title to the property has been affirmed by the Supreme Court. About 1865, the Germans raised funds under the direction of Rev. S. Finkle, D. D., to erect the present neat brick Gothic structure. The dedication of the house occurred June 5, 1870, and in the autumn of the same year an organization with some twelve members was consummated. The first pastor was Rev. J. J. Suman. IIe was succeeded in the spring of 1871 by Rev. George A. Nixdorff, of Frederick, Maryland, who has canceled the debt that hung over the church.
Grace Lutheran Church, situated at the corner of Thirteenth and Corcoran streets Northwest, was organized in 1876. Rev. Emanuel G. Tressel has the spiritual supervision of its membership.
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church is located on Eighth Street, above Florida Avenue, Northwest. It was organized in 1885, and is now under the pastoral oversight of Rev. D. E. Wiseman.
St. Mark's Lutheran Church was organized in 1889, in Potomac
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Hall, with fifteen members. Its church edifice stands on C Street, between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets, Southwest, is a brick structure, and cost $12,000. It has not yet been dedicated. Rev. W. II. Gotwald was the first, and is the present, pastor. The membership is now about sixty. It is the only Lutheran church in the city in connection with the General Synod where the pastor wears the robe and the full Common Service is regularly used.
Keller Memorial Lutheran Church, corner of Ninth Street and Maryland Avenue Northeast, has but a recent origin. The beautiful edifice was erected during 1891-92. The main audience room has a seating capacity for six hundred.
The First German Reformed Trinity Church was organized Decem- ber 8, 1867. Of the original membership, only one now remains alive, Charles Schroth, of this city. The first pastor of this church was Rev. J. W. Ebbinghaus.
A frame church was erected at the corner of N and Sixth streets Northwest, and a new brick building was dedicated October 25, 1891. The church has a membership now of about one hundred families, and works in connection with the Reformed Church of the United States. The pastors who have suc- ceeded the first one mentioned above have been Rev. Robert Reitzel, Rev. Mr. Schild, Rev. M. Treiber, Rev. Mr. Wetterstrom, Rev. M. G. J. Stern, Rev. R. A. Guenther, Rev. H. A. Maier, Rev. W. L. Elter- ich, and Rev. Gustav Facius, the present pastor.
The Grace Reformed Church of the United States, located on Fifteenth Street, between P Street and Rhode Island Avenue, was organized in 1877, through the labors of Dr. Thomas G. Apple, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Dr. Staley, of Baltimore, and Dr. Eschbach, of Frederick. The present house of worship is a brick chapel, which was erected in 1881. The congregation has about one hundred mem- bers. The first pastor was Rev. C. F. Sontag, who officiated some eight years. He was succeeded by Rev. A. T. G. Apple, the present incumbent.
In the summer of 1891, a movement was made toward the erection of a church by the United Brethren in Christ. A lot one hundred by one hundred and twelve feet, on the northwest corner of North Capitol and R streets, was purchased for the sum of $11,200. Arrangements are now being perfected for the construction of a building during the coming year. The congregation is receiving financial assistance from the Church-Erection Society of the United Brethren Church. The pastor is Rev. C. I. B. Brane, A. M., for many years the Washington correspondent of the Religious Telescope, of Dayton, Ohio.
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